ULTRASTRUCTURAL LOCALIZATION OF IMMUNO- REACTIVE FUCOSYLCERAMIDE FUCOSYLCERAMIDE IN NORMAL AND ADENOCARCINOMA CELLS

The localization of fucosylceramide recognized by a monoclonal antibody (MAb), PC47H, was examined immunohistochemically using normal and cancerous tissues. Immunoreactive fucosylceramide was observed in pancreas, parathyroid, submandibular gland, placenta, ovary, intestine, kidney, heart, plasma cells, adenocarcinomas of various organs and multiple myeloma, but not in lymphocytes and in squamous cell carcinoma. The immunoreactive fucosylceramide was localized mainly in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and plasma membranes of thes cells. Selective expression of fucosylceramide in particular organs and adenocarcinomas may reflect a role of fucosylceramide.